Dear President Putin

Dear President Putin,

I cannot even begin to imagine the incredible challenge of being charged with leading an entire country of people.  The weight of the enormity of your decisions must be a great burden to bear.  It takes leaders with clarity of mind, great wisdom and broad vision to make great countries.  It takes even greater leaders to bring countries together to work for a greater global society.   You have been just such a leader, at many different opportunities.  Today I beg you to be that leader once again.

When my husband and I met twelve years ago, we had both dedicated our lives to the service of children.  My husband has more than 15 years of experience in ministry to teenagers and young adults. I have a college degree in elementary education, and have spent the last 8 years in ministry to children.  Two years ago, after struggling for a very long time to have our own family, our doctors finally told us we were asking for a 'miracle.'  It was going to be impossible for us to have our own children.  As a father yourself, I'm sure you can understand how devastated we were.  With heavy, yet hopeful hearts, we began the process of adopting a child from within the United States.  After waiting a very long time with no progress, we once again became very discouraged.  That's when we completely, and unexpectedly, had our hearts stolen by a little girl... in Russia.

Through a network of friends and agencies we learned about a little girl in your country who needs a forever family.  Because of her special needs I'm sure many families shy away from considering calling her their own.  We are not one of those families.  I am not lying when I say that from the moment we heard about her we felt that she was meant for us, and we for her.  We understand her special needs and are not afraid of them.  Additionally, we are fortunate to have excellent heath care coverage that will cover all her needs as she grows up.  In short, we feel that we can provide the kind of loving, caring, supportive home I am certain you desire for every Russian child.

Surely we cannot know every nuance in the present situation that has left your Parliament feeling that it must ban all adoptions to the United States.  I'm sure there are more factors at play here than anyone can understand.  But I beg you, Mr. President, please do not close this door.  Please do not take away the dream of a wonderful family for children in Russia and parents with empty arms in the United States.  Please do not punish us all for the transgressions and mistakes of a few.  There are many of us who are simply enchanted with your country, and plan to raise our children with the full knowledge of where they came from, and honor the traditions and culture of your country- we feel this is important for any child, no matter where they were born.  In fact, we have already purchased books about Russia for the little girl we hope and pray will be our daughter, and are even trying to learn some Russian ourselves, so that we might honor the country that gave us the gift for which we have been praying so long.  We also hope that, as she grows up, we might bring this little girl back to Russia to visit and see the great country where she spent the first part of her life.

We do not pretend to know your burden, Mr. President.  The burden of making the right decision for your people.  The burden of making the decision that is popular, and doesn't distance you from your fellow lawmakers.  The great burden of making the decision that doesn't create great distance between your country and others.  But just as others in your country do not share the same opinion as the lower house of Parliament, so too do not all Americans always share the same opinion with our legislators.    However, we do know, Mr. President, that there are thousands of loving, caring, amazing families all over the United States whose dreams of having a family hang in the balance over this decision.  I am sorry for the offense of the Magnitsky Act.  But you must know, surely you must know, that this legislation does not reflect that attitudes of all Americans.  And there must be some other way for Russia to express its deep dissatisfaction with this law without dashing the hopes and dreams of families just like us, and children just like Alissa - the little girl who we are so hopeful will be ours.

We have been in constant vigil, Mr. President, over this decision.  Our prayers have been first for this little girl we hope will be our daughter, that she might know that half a world away is a family who is fighting so hard for her and is loving her every second of every day.  We pray for all children in Russia waiting for a family.  We pray for Russia's law makers, that their hearts might not be hardened against all Americans, and that they might find a more congruent way to express their frustration with the decisions of our legislature.  And finally, Mr. President, we pray for you.  For clarity of mind, for wisdom, for compassion, and for courage to do the right thing for every life involved in this decision.

Respectfully,
The Letschers